Google Business Profile

Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is supported in Outstand through the Bring Your Own Key (BYOK) model. This allows you to use your own Google Cloud credentials to connect your business locations and manage your Google Business posts through Outstand's unified social media API.

Note: Google Business Profile API access requires pre-approval from Google. You must apply via the GBP API access request form before you can use this integration.

Quick Information

Our application works with the following OAuth scope:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/business.manage - Manage your Google Business Profile

This integration uses multiple Google APIs:

  • Account Management API v1 - List accounts
  • Business Information API v1 - List locations
  • My Business API v4 (legacy) - Create posts
  • Business Profile Performance API v1 - Location metrics

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have:

  • A verified Google Business Profile with at least one location
  • A Google Cloud Platform account
  • Access to Google Cloud Console
  • Approved access to the Google Business Profile API (see note above)
  • Understanding of OAuth 2.0 flows

Important: Your business locations must be verified in Google Business Profile before they can be connected to Outstand.

Step 1: Apply for Google Business Profile API Access

  1. Visit the GBP API access request form
  2. Fill in your project details and use case
  3. Wait for approval (this may take several business days)
  4. Once approved, proceed with the setup steps below

Step 2: Create a Google Cloud Project

  1. Go to Google Cloud Console
  2. Click on the project dropdown at the top
  3. Click New Project
  4. Enter a project name (e.g., "Outstand GBP Integration")
  5. Click Create
  6. Wait for the project to be created and select it from the dropdown

Step 3: Enable Required APIs

In your Google Cloud project, navigate to APIs & Services > Library and enable each of the following:

  1. My Business Account Management API
  2. My Business Business Information API
  3. Google My Business API (legacy, for posting)
  4. Business Profile Performance API

Step 4: Create OAuth 2.0 Credentials

  1. Navigate to APIs & Services > Credentials
  2. Click Create Credentials > OAuth client ID
  3. If prompted, configure the OAuth consent screen first:
    • Choose External (unless you have a Google Workspace account)
    • Fill in the required information:
      • App name: Your application name
      • User support email: Your support email
      • Developer contact information: Your email
    • Click Save and Continue
    • Add the scope: https://www.googleapis.com/auth/business.manage
    • Add test users if needed (for testing before app verification)
    • Click Save and Continue through the remaining steps
  4. Back in the Credentials page, click Create Credentials > OAuth client ID
  5. Select Web application as the application type
  6. Configure the OAuth client:
    • Name: Outstand GBP Integration (or your preferred name)
    • Authorized redirect URIs: Add your Outstand callback URL:
      • Production and development: https://www.outstand.so/app/api/socials/google-business/callback
  7. Click Create
  8. Copy both the Client ID and Client Secret immediately

Security Note: The Client Secret is sensitive information. Store it securely.

Step 5: Add Credentials to Outstand

Method 1: Using the Dashboard

  1. Log in to Outstand Dashboard
  2. Navigate to Settings > Social Networks
  3. Select Google Business from the dropdown
  4. Enter your Client ID in the "Client ID / API Key" field
  5. Enter your Client Secret in the "Client Secret / API Secret" field
  6. Click Add Social Network

Method 2: Using the API

curl -X POST https://api.outstand.so/v1/social-networks \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "network": "google_business",
    "client_key": "YOUR_CLIENT_ID_HERE",
    "client_secret": "YOUR_CLIENT_SECRET_HERE"
  }'

Step 6: Connect Your Business Locations

After adding your credentials:

  1. Navigate to Accounts in your Outstand dashboard
  2. Click Connect Account
  3. Select Google Business
  4. Sign in with the Google account that manages your business locations
  5. Grant the required permissions
  6. You'll see a list of all your verified business locations
  7. Select the locations you want to connect
  8. Click Confirm to finalize the connection

Note: Each location is connected as a separate social account. You can select multiple locations during the connection flow.

Google Business-Specific Configuration

When creating posts for Google Business, you can specify additional configuration options:

{
  "networkOverrideConfiguration": {
    "googleBusinessConfiguration": {
      "topicType": "STANDARD",
      "callToAction": {
        "actionType": "LEARN_MORE",
        "url": "https://example.com"
      }
    }
  }
}

Post Types

Google Business supports three post types via the topicType field:

Standard Posts (default)

Basic text posts with optional media and CTA.

{
  "googleBusinessConfiguration": {
    "topicType": "STANDARD",
    "callToAction": {
      "actionType": "SHOP",
      "url": "https://example.com/shop"
    }
  }
}

Event Posts

Posts with event details including dates and times.

{
  "googleBusinessConfiguration": {
    "topicType": "EVENT",
    "event": {
      "title": "Grand Opening Sale",
      "startDate": { "year": 2026, "month": 3, "day": 15 },
      "startTime": { "hours": 9, "minutes": 0 },
      "endDate": { "year": 2026, "month": 3, "day": 15 },
      "endTime": { "hours": 17, "minutes": 0 }
    },
    "callToAction": {
      "actionType": "LEARN_MORE",
      "url": "https://example.com/event"
    }
  }
}

Offer Posts

Posts with promotional offer details.

{
  "googleBusinessConfiguration": {
    "topicType": "OFFER",
    "offer": {
      "couponCode": "SAVE20",
      "redeemOnlineUrl": "https://example.com/redeem",
      "termsConditions": "Valid until March 31, 2026. One per customer."
    }
  }
}

Configuration Options

  • topicType ("STANDARD" | "EVENT" | "OFFER", optional): The type of post. Defaults to "STANDARD".
  • callToAction (object, optional): Call-to-action button on the post.
    • actionType: One of "BOOK", "ORDER", "SHOP", "LEARN_MORE", "SIGN_UP", "CALL"
    • url: The URL to link to
  • event (object, required for EVENT posts): Event details.
    • title: Event title
    • startDate / endDate: Date objects with year, month, day
    • startTime / endTime (optional): Time objects with hours, minutes
  • offer (object, optional for OFFER posts): Offer details.
    • couponCode: Coupon code string
    • redeemOnlineUrl: URL to redeem online
    • termsConditions: Terms and conditions text

Important Notes

Media Requirements

  • Media must be provided as publicly accessible URLs (not uploaded as bytes)
  • Both photos and videos are supported
  • Media format is automatically detected from the URL file extension

Post Limitations

  • Post text is limited to 1,500 characters
  • Standard posts expire after 7 days on Google Business Profile
  • Event posts remain visible until the event end date
  • Offer posts remain visible until the offer expires

Metrics

  • Post-level metrics are not available. Google deprecated post-level insights with no replacement.
  • Location-level metrics are available through the account insights endpoint, including:
    • Desktop and mobile impressions (Maps and Search)
    • Direction requests
    • Phone call clicks
    • Website clicks

Token Management

  • Google Business access tokens expire after 1 hour
  • A refresh token is automatically stored during the OAuth flow
  • Tokens are automatically refreshed when needed

Troubleshooting

"Google Business Profile integration is not configured"

  • Verify you've added your Client ID and Client Secret to Outstand
  • Ensure the credentials are for the correct Google Cloud project

"No Google Business accounts found"

  • Ensure the Google account you're signing in with has Google Business Profile accounts
  • Check that you have admin access to the business accounts

"No Google Business locations found"

  • Ensure your business locations are verified in Google Business Profile
  • Check that your Google Business Profile API access has been approved

"Failed to create local post"

  • Verify your API access has been approved by Google
  • Check that the location is verified and active
  • Ensure post content doesn't exceed 1,500 characters
  • Verify media URLs are publicly accessible

"Post-level metrics are not available"

  • This is expected. Google deprecated post-level metrics. Use account-level insights instead.

Next Steps

Once your Google Business credentials are configured and locations connected, you can:

  1. Create business posts using the Posts API
  2. Schedule Google Business content for optimal engagement
  3. Monitor location-level analytics through the account insights endpoint
  4. Use post type configuration to create events and offers

On this page

Quick InformationPrerequisitesStep 1: Apply for Google Business Profile API AccessStep 2: Create a Google Cloud ProjectStep 3: Enable Required APIsStep 4: Create OAuth 2.0 CredentialsStep 5: Add Credentials to OutstandMethod 1: Using the DashboardMethod 2: Using the APIStep 6: Connect Your Business LocationsGoogle Business-Specific ConfigurationPost TypesStandard Posts (default)Event PostsOffer PostsConfiguration OptionsImportant NotesMedia RequirementsPost LimitationsMetricsToken ManagementTroubleshooting"Google Business Profile integration is not configured""No Google Business accounts found""No Google Business locations found""Failed to create local post""Post-level metrics are not available"Next Steps